The anti-rape bill will replace the ordinance promulgated by president Pranab Mukherjee on 3rd February

Parliament Thursday passed the anti-rape bill which keeps the age for consensual sex at 18 years and makes voyeurism and stalking punishable offences, with Rajya Sabha giving its nod to the legislation.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, approved by the Lok Sabha Tuesday, was moved in Rajya Sabha earlier Thursday by home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

A resolution moved by Communist Party of India leader D Raja, disapproving the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance which the bill seeks to replace, was rejected by the house.

The anti-rape bill will replace the ordinance promulgated by president Pranab Mukherjee on 3rd February.

The legislation had to be passed by Parliament before 4th April, when it would have lapsed.

The issue has been in focus after the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi on 16th December last year, who died of grievous injuries 13 days later.